Music eases Alzheimer's pain

Libby Day has made it her mission to make things easier for those in touch with the disease Alzheimer's.

The Sunshine Coast resident strives to make things easier for patients and their families through her organisation Molly's Song, named after her mother who suffers from the illness.

After studying music therapy, Libby knew she could make a difference.

"Some years ago I studied music therapy at Melbourne University; I was able to see firsthand how music helps those with Alzheimer's," explains Libby.

"It's a way of touching their world and it's a way for them to reminisce.

"Sometimes they can't move or have difficulty speaking, yet the rhythm of the music and the melody in the music can bring them alive and lets them participate.

"The joy in their eyes is beautiful, that feeling of being part of the music."

The long good-bye

In most cases the disease will move slowly with patients deteriorating gradually, Molly says it's often termed 'the long goodbye'.

"The disease is hard, everything is slow, things slowly happen; it's the long goodbye.

"I went from having a mum full of life, full of music.

"I would hug her, play the piano with her and now I'm not able to do any of those things with her, it's hard."

Molly explains that in her mother's instance her state has remained the same for a long time.

"The doctor says he's never seen anything like this, being in her state for this long, yet I think it's because my dad is there holding her hand every day," she says with a tear in her eye.

Awareness

With more conversation happening about the disease, Libby hopes her fundraising will continue to create more acceptance of the disease.

"It's almost every day now that you hear about Alzheimer's, things are more up front.

"There's also more acceptance of it, it's a chronic disease that we shouldn't shy away from and that's what I've wanted to do.

"In our way we create awareness and funds for the cause to find the cure.

"By celebrating music and its power, we try to do our bit."

Hear Libby talk about how music therapy helps families connect with their loved ones by listening to the audio on the right.

The group is holding a Sunday Afternoon of Music to be held on Sunday 4th August in Noosaville, featuring special guest Katie Noonan and local artists Andrea Kirwin and Taylor Moss. For more information and tickets call 5474 4444.